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Two goals from lively forward Connor Herewini enabled Midlands to win their first national men's hockey title since 2008 in rain-drenched Whangarei yesterday.

Midlands beat Canterbury 3-1 in the Challenge Shield final, which was delayed by torrential rain which also put the women's final back by four hours. The Canterbury Cats held on to defeat North Harbour 3-2 in that game.

The conditions hindered both men's finalists in their pursuit of quality hockey but Herewini was a shining light.

Joseph Lyons had given Midlands an early lead, deflecting a ball driven hard into the Canterbury circle.

Black Stick Nick Haig equalised with a fierce drive from a penalty corner, flying into the top right corner of the Midlands goal.

Then Herewini stepped up.

A minute before the end of the third quarter, he broke down the right, dribbled along the baseline and flicked the ball over Canterbury goalkeeper George Enerson for a terrific individual goal. He then sealed the win two minutes from the end with a turn, swivel and hard drive into the Canterbury goal in the final quarter, celebrating by slamming his stick into the turf.

In the women's K Cup final, Canterbury came out firing and opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Olivia Merry went on a solo run before firing an amazing shot into the net past the shoulder of goalkeeper Brooke Roberts.

The Cats doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Joie Leigh capitalised on a bobbling ball from a penalty corner deflection and knocked into goal.

North Harbour struck back through Stephanie Elliot from a 27th-minute penalty corner before Canterbury netted again right on halftime from the stick of Jenny Storey.